December’s best sneaker drops: Your guide to this month’s must-have releases

Our monthly series looks at the top releases from the best brands in athletic footwear. Whether you’re an avid sneakerhead or just looking for the perfect pair to complement your style, navigating the vast world of sneakers can be overwhelming. From understanding where to buy to decoding the latest trends, consider this your road map to finding the perfect pair.

It’s December, which means Christmas is a mere weeks away. If you’re still trying to find the perfect pair for the sneakerhead in your life or yourself, don’t worry, as Jordan delivers its annual holiday Jordan 11 release. New Balance and Adidas keep their respective collab streaks going strong, while Asics and Salomon make strong cases for being under your Christmas tree.

Stefon Diggs x Asics Gel DS Trainer 14

While New England Patriots star Stefon Diggs may be more known for his play on the field, he recently made waves off the field due to his partnership with Asics. Diggs’ second collab with the brand features the Gel-DS Trainer 14 in an all-black upper with neon accents, instantly evoking ‘90s nostalgia.

Release date: Dec. 2

Retail: $160

SKU: 1203B142-001

Westside Gunn x Saucony ProGrid Triumph 4

Rap renaissance man Westside Gunn has made a name for himself outside of music as a wrestling promoter and a fashion tastemaker. Gunn’s first official fashion foray into the footwear world comes in the form of his take on the Saucony ProGrid Triumph. A glow-in-the-dark upper, the canvas for yellows, blues and oranges to hit you like one of Gunn’s outlandish bars about his past life.

Release Date: Dec. 4

Retail: $195

SKU: S71048-1

Bape x CLOT x Adidas Superstar

Adidas has spent most of this year celebrating the 45th anniversary of its iconic Superstar. The latest release of the model finds them teaming up with both designer Edison Chen’s CLOT and Bape. Everything you come to expect from CLOT and Bape is here, with Bape’s camo shooting star logo across the medial side of the shoe. At the same time, CLOT’s ripple bottom and gold lace look give the glossy leather Superstar a high-fashion look that will definitely turn heads no matter where you are.

Release Date: Dec. 5

Retail: $220

SKU:  KJ1473

Nardwuar x Nike SB Dunk Low

Nardwaur, everybody’s favorite eccentric Canadian journalist, has made a name for himself over the past few decades by knowing the most random and in-depth things about the people he interviews and by his unique fashion style. From his iconic tartan-patterned cap inspiring the shoe’s upper to multiple lace options and other homages, these will definitely turn heads and leave plenty of people puzzled, as if the man himself had just interviewed them.

Release Date: Dec. 6

Retail: $140

SKU:  II1493-600

Nike Air Max Griffey 1 “Freshwater”

When you think of non-basketball signature athletes and their ’90s sneakers, three names stand out: Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, and Ken Griffey Jr. We’ve highlighted plenty of Jackson‘s and Sanders’ shoes in the past, but this marks Griffey’s debut on the list—and it’s with his most iconic shoe. Straps, bold color-blocking, and a bulky yet clean silhouette capture the era’s design language while staying as smooth as Griffey’s swing, making these a must-have.

Release Date: Dec. 6

Retail: $140

SKU:  II1493-600

SoleFly x Air Jordan Retro 3

When it comes to Jordan brand collabs, you can always count on Miami-based retailer SoleFly to have something in store for us. As usual, premium materials are the star of the show here as we have a white tumbled leather upper with green and orange accents, making it the perfect homage to Florida and its orange trees, or if you’re Michael Irvin, an homage to The U.

Release Date: Dec. 7

Retail: $225

SKU: IF4491-100

Andrew x Salomon XT-6

Miami-based skate shop Andrew reworks the XT-6 with the city’s vibrant energy and a tasty nod to a local favorite: Florida stone crab, whose mix of orange, reddish-brown, and black colors inspires the shoe’s look.

Release Date: Dec. 8

Retail: $190

SKU: L49257500

Rich Paul x New Balance 2010

Agents usually secure sneaker collaborations with brands on behalf of their clients. However, Klutch Athletics founder Rich Paul has always zigged while others zagged. His most recent release with New Balance sports a vino-inspired color, with the idea that a relaxing glass of wine is best enjoyed “Unbothered.”

Release Date: Dec. 10

Retail: $180

SKU: U2010RP1_D

Jalen Brunson x Nike Kobe 6 Protro “Statue of Liberty”

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson’s dedication to Kobe Bryant’s signature line has been well documented. But his “Statue of Liberty” PE is a cool hat tip to New York City and the fans’ support for the hard-nosed guard’s approach to the game.

Release Date: Dec. 11

Retail: $200

SKU: IQ5774-300

New Balance 992 “Driftwood Mushroom”

New Balance is mainly known for gray footwear, but it has shown a penchant for crafting well-done takes on brown sneakers since creative director Teddy Santis joined the company in 2021. Adding a reptile-skin-like texture to the 991v2 runner yields good results, elevating the shoe from boring to beautiful.

Release Date: Dec. 11

Retail: $200

SKU: U992SG

Converse Shai 001 “Winter Red”

Much like the previous colors we’ve seen, the latest Shai 001 goes with a monochromatic approach, with red as the star of the show and hits of green across the zipper and elsewhere. These are a must-cop if you find yourself having to play Santa for any events, or if you want to adopt a festive look for your Christmas party at work.

Release Date: Dec. 11

Retail: $130

SKU: A18775C

Air Jordan Retro 11 “Gamma”

It’s December, which means we’re getting our traditional Jordan 11 release. While we’ve seen plenty of Jordan 11s this year, they always save one of their best for Christmas. This year, it’s the return of the “Gamma” colorway. While not one of the colorways from the original run of Jordan 11s, the blacked-out sneaker has become one of the most popular color schemes, so expect these to sell out almost immediately. 

Release Date: Dec. 13

Retail: $235

SKU: CT8012-047

Adidas Harden Vol. 10 “Imma Be a Star”

James Harden and Adidas have been consistently putting out solid-performing, well-designed shoes. That trend continues with the Harden Vol. 10, and the “Star” colorway immediately evokes memories of the early 2000s with its platinum-colored, water-ripple effect on the shoe’s upper. These are a must-have for those who still hoop and/or those who want a solid-looking sneaker.

Release Date: Dec. 15

Retail: $160

SKU: JQ9453

Chase B x Travis Scott x Jumpman Jack

Travis Scott is spreading the love by having his DJ and fellow sneaker enthusiast Chase B take a stab at creating a version of Scott’s Jordan Jumpman Jack silhouette. The 3M elements on the upper and glow-in-the-dark sole make perfect design sense for a guy who spends a lot of time working in the dark.

Release Date: Dec. 19

Retail: $200

SKU: IH7971-001

Nike GT Future “Metallic Silver”

The latest from Nike’s Greater Than series of sneakers takes a simple yet futuristic approach, letting the design’s metallic silver upper shine through to show that less can be more. If you need ideas on how to wear these off the court, the rapper Wale has been wearing the Future in various colorways for anyone looking for style tips on how to rock these.

Release Date: Dec. 20

Retail: $200

SKU: FZ5590-002

Up There x New Balance 991v2

Australian sneaker boutique knocked their New Balance 991v2 out of the park. The full-grain leather, carbon fiber placement on the upper and gum soles really do a lot to elevate the shoe beyond a basic black.

Release Date: Nov. 28

Retail: $350

SKU: U991UT2

Air Jordan Retro 4 “Black Cat”

While Michael Jordan has many nicknames, including The GOAT, His Airness and MJ, this latest release pays homage to one of his lesser-known nicknames, “Black Cat,” a reference to his stealthy but deadly nature on the court. Dressed in all-black nubuck suede, these are just as lethal as Jordan was because they can fit in on the court, on casual Friday at work, or for date night.

Release Date: Nov. 28

Retail: $220

SKU: SV5029-010

The post December’s best sneaker drops: Your guide to this month’s must-have releases appeared first on Andscape.